A potential playoff elimination game unfolds on Saturday when the No. 9-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2) head to Pittsburgh to take on the No. 22-ranked Panthers (7-2, 5-1 ACC).
Notre Dame is on a seven-game winning streak after starting the season with back-to-back losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The Fighting Irish’s signature win came against USC, defeating the Trojans 34-24 in October.
Pittsburgh also experienced a two-game losing streak this year, dropping consecutive contests against rival WVU and Louisville. Since those September contests, the Panthers are 5-0, pummeling their ACC competition.
The Panthers can end Notre Dame’s dreams of making the playoffs with a victory on Saturday. Will the Fighting Irish or Panthers emerge victorious? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props from this exciting noon contest.
The 2025 season has started better than freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel’s wildest dreams. The 6-foot-2 signal-caller became the full-time starter against Boston College, and he hasn’t looked back since.
In five starts, Heintschel has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,547 yards, 12 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He’s surpassed the 300-yard mark in four of his five outings, slicing apart defenses with surgical precision.
The Fighting Irish’s pass defense has been suspect in 2025. Notre Dame had allowed over 240 passing yards in back-to-back outings before taking on Navy last week. That is encouraging enough to believe Heintschel can have a big day against the Fighting Irish. Bettors should take him to cover his passing prop total.
Despite splitting time with Jadarian Price, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is by far his team’s leading rusher. He’s notched 154 carries for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns thus far, showing his elite abilities.
He’ll have another opportunity to do so on Saturday. Pittsburgh allowed North Carolina State more than eight yards per run in their matchup. Expect Notre Dame to exploit the run defense with Love and Price, allowing both of their top-tier running backs to cover their rushing prop totals against Pitt.
Notre Dame’s top receiving threat this year is wideout Jordan Faison. The junior has logged 43 receptions for 545 yards and three touchdowns thus far, stats that rank him atop his team’s totals.
Although Notre Dame will run the football, quarterback C.J. Carr will have opportunities to make his mark on Saturday. The Panthers have allowed over 225 yards passing in back-to-back outings, and three receivers have surpassed the 60-yard mark. That should give bettors confidence that Faison will add his name to that list, covering his receiving prop total.
Notre Dame needs this victory more than Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish’s resume includes only one quality win, and the remaining schedule features a pair of 3-7 teams in Syracuse and Stanford.
Still, don’t discount the Panthers. Pitt’s losses this season were one-score games before Heintschel took over the offense. Expect this to be a close contest throughout as the Panthers cover the 12.5-point spread on Saturday.